Canadian Forces door gunner Sgt Chad Zopf leans out of a CH-146 Griffon helicopter during a training exercise in Afghanistan. Four Griffon helicopters will form part of the Canadian force in Mali.
Photograph: Handout/Reuters

Canada will deploy helicopters and troops – including female soldiers – to Mali in support of an ongoing UN peacekeeping mission, the government has announced.

Defence minister Harjit Sajjan told reporters that Canada would deploy two Chinook transport helicopters and four Griffon attack helicopters to provide armed escort and protection in the fight against Islamist militants in Mali.

The 12-month deployment will also include an infantry unit and military trainers.

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The foreign minister, Chrystia Freeland, said the unit heading to Mali would include female soldiers.

“One of our priorities is to increase women’s participation in peacekeeping,” she said.

The announcement is less ambitious than the Liberal government of the prime minister, Justin Trudeau, had initially planned. Shortly after coming to power in late 2015, Ottawa had indicated it would send up to 600 troops to Mali.

Ministers later put the plans on hold amid fears of casualties, angering allies who said they felt let down, and prompting some to speculate the delay could hurt Canada’s bid for a non-permanent seat at the UN security council.